Apparatus for treating starch.



No. 707,986. I Paten ted Aug. 26, I902. 12. H. TOLHURST & A. a. GOLDTHWAIT.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING STABCH.

(Application filed Aug. 26, 1901.

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"- UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

CHARLES H. TOLHURST AND ABEL G. GOLDTI-IWAIT, OF TROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO WILLIAM H. TOLHURST 85 SON, OF TROY, NEW YORK, A

FIRM.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING STARCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 707,986, dated. August 26, 1902. Original application filed February 3, 1898, Serial No. 669,026. Divided and this application filed August 26, 1901. Serial To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. TOLHURST and ABEL G. GOLDTHWAIT, citizens of the United States, residingat Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for. Treating Starch, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the reference characters I 5 markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several figures therein.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a central vertical section of our improved apparatus,taken longitudinally of the axis of rotation. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same,taken on the broken line 2 2 in Fig. 1. central horizontal section of the inner cylin- 2 5 der or drum detached and showing the radial screen-partitions in plan.

This is a divisional application covering the invention shown but not claimed in an application now pending in the United States 0 Patent Office, filed February 3, 1898, Serial I No.669,026, for a Method of treating starch,

and we do not claim herein the art or method therein described and claimed.

A is a drum, preferably made of cast-iron 5 and comprising a cylinder provided at each end with an annular flange A, to which the heads A are-secured by means of the bolts A The heads are provided with trunnions A and A rotary in suitable bearings A in the supports A Before the heads are se cured to the cylinder anothersmaller drum B is inserted in the cylinder and held centrally therein by means of the screw-studs B, inserted in screw-threaded apertures in the annular hoops or rings B which encircle the inner drum. Before the heads of the outer drum are secured to the cylinder these screws are so adjusted as to support the two cylinders of the drums concentrically with each other. The inner drum is preferably made .lindrical part by rivets 13.

nor. the trunnion with branches B and B", one

Fig. 3 is a the outer drum.

(No model.)

of copper,and its heads B are provided with edge flanges B which are secured to the cy- Both the drums are steam-tight and separated from each other by a considerable space B which is also 5 5 steam-tight and forms a steam-chamber surrounding the inner drum. Steam is admitted to this chamber through the trunnion Aiwhich contains a pipe B, passed through a stuffingbox B to make a tight joint in the usual man- This pipe B is provided exteriorly of leading to a steam-supply and the other to a cold-Water supply and each having a valve F. The other trunnion A containsa pipe B also passed through a stuffing-box and extended down nearly to the lower side of the chamber B for the purpose of taking off the exhaust and water of condensation. The trunnion A is also provided with a drive-pul- 7o ley A fixed thereon. The inner drum is also provided with a metal plate O, secured by rivets O to the cylindrical part, which is apertured to receive the annular flange O and the plate is apertured and interiorly screw-threaded to receive the inlet and out let nipple G which is inserted through a stuffing-box. O and aperture in the Wall of The exteriorly-projecting end of the nipple is screw-threaded to receive a valve 0 which is not shown in section, as itmaybeof anyknownconstruction. When desired,-the inner drum may be strengthened by hoop flanges or rings 0. The inner drum is also provided with means for stirring, screening; and agitating its contents, as the screens D and D, occupying interior radial planes. The screens are preferably composed of openmeshed wire-nettin g secured to the cross-rods D and D supported by the radial arms D and D secured to the wall of the inner drum at their ends by rivets D and it is obvious that any desired number of screen-partitions may be employed.

The inner drum or starchreceiver being 95 about half-filled with a mixture of starch and cold water through the valved inlet and the valve closed, the operation of the apparatus is as follows: Power is applied to slowly rotate the drums, and live steam is admitted to too the steam-chamber until the starch becomes hydrated. The water of condensation is forced from the steam-chamber by the steampressure through the eduction-pipe, as before explained. After the mass has entered into solution or become hydrated the steam is shut off and cold water admitted into and run through the steam-chamber to cool the mass to the desired temperature, the rotation of the drums being continued, after which the mass is drawn off into a tub or other receptacle, ready for use as laundry starch. By our improved apparatus the steam is not brought into contact with the starch, as heretofore commonly practiced, thereby preventing excessive water and fluidity, due to condensation. It is also of greatimportance that we are able to secure uniformity of product in successively-repeated operations of the apparatus. Uniformity of mixture and speed of rotation are always obtainable, and the proportions of the mixture are not affected by condensation in the steam-chamber. As the inner drum is rotated the wire screenpartitions are forced through the mass, and when the mass is thick, so as not to flow freely through the screens, a portion will be carried up on the screens above the axial line of the drum, from which position it is capable of sliding over the inner edge of the screeu partition, so as to fall below the axial line of the drum and be engaged by the succeeding screen-partition, the operation being repeated until the entire mass has passed through the screens a sufficient number of times to break it up or disintegrate it and transform it intoan easily-flowing fluid state, in which condition it is ready for use in starching fabric.

It will be observed that the screen-partitions or disintegrators extend from the inner periphery ol. the inner drum part way only to the axial line of such drum, thereby forming a central opening between the inner edges of the partitions through which the mass is permitted to fall, as before stated. The particles of starch are not only thoroughly stirred by the screens D and D before bursting to secure a uniform distribution of the applied heat throughout the mixture, but after these particles have become hydrated the screens serve to cut and finally subdivide the hydrated mass and free the soluble part from the inclosing tissues or sac, thereby effecting a uniform solution of the soluble portion of the particles and destroying all structure.

\Vhile some laundrymen apply starch to fabrics while hot, it is well known that more starch can be inserted and better results obtained by the application of cold starch. If a starch solution is allowed to cool without being simultaneously broken up by a screen or otherwise, it forms when cold a semisolid mass, which can be inserted in fabrics only with great and persistent efiort. It will not flow readily and if discharged from one receptacle to another drops in large irregular lumps. \Vhen preparing it for use laundrymen have practiced breaking up this mass by forcing it when cold through a cloth strainer. \V hen starch is prepared by our improved apparatus, it assumes when cold a condition such that it will flow like a thick liquid and can be as easily inserted in fabrics as the strained starch.

It is obvious that after the starch has become hydrated by the application of heat in our apparatus, as before described, it may be allowed to cool while the apparatus is at rest and without the introduction of cold waterin the space between the two drums and the cool mass afterward broken up and reduced to a fluid condition, ready for use by rotating the drums; but the operation can be completed much more quickly by rotating the drums while the starch is cooling. The treated solution can be kept in the closed inner drum for a long time without evaporation or deterioration. When the solution is left in an open tub in a laundry, it soon sours and becomes worthless. Being treated in a closed drum, all germs are killed by the heat and others cannot reach the interior of the drum.

lVhile our improved apparatus is especially adapted for use in treating starch, it is also adapted for use in treating farinaceous foods and other articles.

\Vheu desired, the innerdrum may be provided with two or more valved inlets-one serving as an inlet and another as an outlet.

It should be borne in mind that the disintegrating screen-partitions are caused to revolve about a horizontal axis, thus lifting portions of the starchy mass being treated above the normal level of the mass in the inner drum and allowing them to fall by gravity to a level below the normal, the operation being repeated until the whole mass has become sufficiently disintegrated.

\Vhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus for treating starch a drum having a series of screen-partitions extending from its inner periphery to near its center, leaving said center open for the passage of starch from one partition to the other entirely around the cylinder, and an opening leading to the space between two of the partitions, said opening being provided with means for closing the same, substantially as described.

2. In a starch-treating apparatus a starchreceiving drum rotary upon a horizontal axis and containing a screen-partition fixed to the drum and partially dividing the starch-inclosure, and means for rotating the drum.

3. An apparatus for treating starch consisting of a drum having a series of screenpartitions extending from its inner periphery to near its center, leaving said center open for the passage of starch from one partition to the other entirely around the cylinder, substantially as described.

4. An apparatus for treating starch consisting of a drum having a series of screenpartitions extending from its inner periphery to near its center, leaving said center open for the passage of starch from one partition to the other entirely around the cylinder, and an opening leading to the space between two of the partitions, said opening being closed by a valve, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an outer drum having end trunnions journaled in suitable bearings; of an inner drum; adjustable supporting connections between the cylindrical walls of the two drums for centering the inner drum; inlet and outlet pipes for permit ting a heating agent to How through the space between the drums and means for rotating the drums, substantially as described.

6. In a starch-treating apparatus, and in combination; a rotary drum with supportingtrunnions; bearings for the trunnions; means for rotating the drum; a closed starch-receiver; means for supporting the receiver within the drum with a steam-chamber between the drum and receiver; a steam-supply pipe leading through one of the trunnions to the steam-chamber; a stationary exhaust-pipe leading from the lower side of such steam-chamber out through the other trunnion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 21st day of August, 1901.

CHARLES H. TOLHURST.

ABEL G. GOLDTHWAIT.

Witnesses:

FRANK (J. CURTIS, E. M. OREILLY. 

